2C and 2D). Significant differences were not observed in subgroups [V(+24h) and BP(+24h)] in two different sets of experiments conducted at different times. As observed in experiment 1, mice on the control diet for 7, 14 and 28 days [subgroups BP(+8d), BP(+15d), BP(+29d)] showed a time-related significant decrease in total adduct levels as seen by adduct intensity

in the liver and lungs of mice compared to BP(+24h) and subgroup of preceding time point. Interestingly, mice that were shifted to 0.05% curcumin diet and killed at 7, 14 and 28 days [subgroups BP(+8d) + C7d, BP(+15d) + C14d, BP(+29d) + C28d] showed a significantly higher decrease Reverse Transcriptase inhibitor in total levels of adduct intensity in the liver and lungs compared to BP(+24h) and respective time-matched controls [subgroups BP(+8d), BP(+15d),

BP(+29d)] (Figure 2 and Figure 3). This decrease was also evident when comparison of the percentage intensity of nuclei containing high, click here medium and low levels of adducts was made between curcumin-treated and time-matched controls. In the liver, the observed decrease in total adduct intensity appears to be attributed to reduction in percentage intensity of nuclei containing high and low levels of adducts. However, in lungs, it was mainly due to a decrease in intensity of nuclei containing high levels of adducts in mice shifted to 0.05% curcumin diet and killed at 7, 14 and 28 days [subgroups BP(+8d) + C7d, BP(+15d) + C14d, BP(+29d) + C28d] compared to BP(+24h) and respective time-matched controls [subgroups BP(+8d), BP(+15d), BP(+29d)] (Figs. 2C and 2D). These results suggest that dietary curcumin further enhanced the decrease in total adduct intensity in the liver and lungs of mice although the extent of decrease varied. The observed decrease in levels of BPDE-DNA adducts in liver and lungs may be attributed to increased loss

of adducts containing cells and/or enhanced DNA repair and/or dilution of adducted DNA by newly synthesized non-adducted DNA. To investigate the effect of dietary curcumin post-treatment on B(a)P-induced cell turnover in mouse liver and lungs, TUNEL assay was employed. Turnover Idoxuridine of cells by apoptosis in the liver and lungs was measured in a similar area of tissue sections (mm2) and number of cells (∼800 cells/section/animal). Apoptotic index was measured in terms of total apoptotic nuclei intensity as well as the percentage of apoptotic positive and negative cells. Notably, 5-10% and 20-35% of total apoptotic nuclei were detected in the liver and lung tissues of vehicle [V(+24h), V(+48h), V(+96h), V(+144h)] or vehicle + curcumin [V(+48h) + C 24 h, V(+96h) + C 72 h, V(+144h) + C 120 h]-treated subgroups, respectively (Figs.